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Extraordinary, inspiring news reached our Microscan office in Renton, WA a couple of weeks ago - Christoph Strasser, a record-winning ultracyclist, sponsored by Microscan, won the Race Across America 2017! While Microscan is expanding the boundaries of technological developments in barcode reading, verification and machine vision- increasing speed, high-performance and the longevity of our products, Christoph has been challenging the boundaries of human endurance in the Race Across America. This is not the first record set by Christoph – back in 2014, he set another record for the solo mens speed category, a record yet to be broken, by completing the race in 7 days 15 hours 56 minutes, at an average speed of 16.42 miles per hour. Christoph has proven that there are always new goals to set and there are always more mountains to summit for all of us!

RAMM, the world’s toughest bicycle race across the United States, started in 1982 as the Great American Bike Race when four cyclists raced from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in New York City. Since then, the race has become a cherished dream, an ultracycling pinnacle for athletes eager to test the boundaries of human endurance. There is no other race in the world like RAAM. From the first mile to the very last, Race Across America tests participants’ physical and mental strength as they battle through extreme weather conditions, challenging terrain, excessive distance and lack of rest and sleep. Finishing RAAM means you have been able to push yourself through these obstacles, and the limits of the human mind and body. Athletes who have completed this race join a select group of internationally esteemed cyclists, who can claim a finishers title of the hardest cycling race in the world.

The solo division of the RAMM 2017 race started in Oceanside, California and ended in Annapolis, Maryland (3070 miles/4941km). Racers had a maximum of 12 days to complete the race, most finishing in 11 days – Christoph Strasser did it in 8 days 9 hours 34min with a total of 8.5 hours sleep!

Picture 1. Race Across America Route

Microscan is proud of Christoph and this amazing accomplishment! His commitment to winning the race is inspirational for all of us, and we’re so happy for him that his effort paid off. Please join us in celebrating Christoph’s accomplishment!